Battery storage awarded 576 MW in UK top-up capacity market auction
Battery energy storage system (BESS) and demand-side response assets both secure roughly 8% of capacity agreements, according to provisional results, but nuclear leads the pack in first UK capacity market auction of 2026. Results from larger T-4 auction expected later in the month, with generators and energy storage assets vying for multi-year contracts.
Tigo debuts 725 W optimizer for high-power solar modules
The new product has a maximum wattage of 725 W, a maximum current of 22 A, and a maximum efficiency of 99.6%.
BYD unveils EV batteries that can recharge in 10 minutes
The Chinese electric vehicle maker said the new batteries can charge from 10% to 70% in 5 minutes and from 10% to 97% in 9 minutes. The company also announced a new generation of its Flash Charging Technology.
US solar’s push for domestic bliss
Incentives in the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 drove a wave of new solar manufacturing announcements, and the country now has more than enough module capacity to meet domestic demand for several years. Policy shifts have created uncertainty, but continued tax credits and a focus on domestic industry have US manufacturers planning to expand cell and component production.
China TOPCon module prices edge higher as March cargoes clear
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, OPIS, a Dow Jones company, provides a quick look at the main price trends in the global PV industry.
China’s polysilicon prices fall again amid 480,000 MT inventory buildup
Global solar supply chains face renewed price pressure as weak post-holiday demand in China collides with high polysilicon stockpiles, pushing wafer costs lower and weighing on exporters ahead of policy changes.
Guidelines to assess three-terminal, four-terminal tandem solar cell performance
Researchers in the U.S. have developed a set of guidelines and protocols to assess the performance of three-terminal (3-T) and four-terminal (4-T) tandem solar cells, including those with subcells made of III–V, CdTe, perovskites or silicon materials.
Australia’s Dinawan solar farm among 14 projects in state investment round
The proposed Dinawan solar farm in Australia is one of 14 energy projects worth AUD 34 billion ($23.9 billion) endorsed in the first round of the New South Wales state government’s Investment Delivery Authority program.
New study challenges current narrative around EPE encapsulants
Austrian researchers analyzed commercial ethylene vinyl acetate–polyolefin–ethylene vinyl acetate (EPE) solar encapsulants and found that products sold under the same label can have significantly different material structures and performance. While EPE offers better moisture barriers and thermal resistance than EVA and is rapidly gaining market share, the study warns that its long-term reliability and behavior vary widely and require deeper investigation.
Cold thermal storage crucial to boosting liquid-air energy storage efficiency
Researchers reviewed 110 studies on cold thermal energy storage in liquid-air energy storage, finding that cold storage performance has a far greater impact on system efficiency than previously assumed. While phase change materials offer high theoretical efficiency gains, simpler packed-bed sensible heat systems are currently the most mature and cost-effective option, with further experimental validation needed to bridge the gap to large-scale deployment.
